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Local businesses showcase products, services at Fourth Business Expo

The Business Expo was held April 6 and 7

Local businesses had an opportunity to showcase operations at the fourth annual Business Expo with dozens taking the chance.

Ceanna Bruce was among the many repeat exhibitors in her third year here with Student Works Painting, a Western Canadian franchise. 

“We try to hit a home show in every major centre to show people that we’re here,” said the third-year accounting degree student. “I love the home show.

“It’s amazing to reach out to people and meet people and the people you meet here and the relationships you build often come through in the summer.”

Bruce will have no student debt after graduation, courtesy of the painting franchise.

One of the new businesses on the block was 4 Plants Indoor Gardening, specializing in hydroponic gardening.

Operator Kim White opened in November to capitalize on the legal home growing of cannabis.

“Moose Jaw is supporting us really well,” said White. “We offer everything to grow indoors as well as items to grow outdoors – grow tents, nutrients, lighting, all accessories.”

Demand is high with items back ordered for two months sometimes.

“The whole hydroponic market did not expect as many sales as we have.”

About half their business is cannabis related. “We have tonnes of vegetable growers – micro green hydroponic vegetables, lettuce, herbs.”

Brett Daly of Regina’s World Financial Group was live streaming world curling to show his group’s curling sponsorship.

The financial education firm used the Business Expo to expand to Moose Jaw.

“We’re finding a lot of people whether they’re just coming out of school, near retirement or retired, are looking for that education on how money works.”

His group offers a one-stop shop to money solutions and works with debt education.

“Everybody has debt. We teach what the difference is between good debt and bad debt, solutions on how to get out of it” on the basis that you are a monthly bill that gets paid first.

Rob Clark, CEO of the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce, said the expo is all about promoting business.

“We have just about everything you want here — the new phone company, assisted living places, hot tubs, barbecues,” he said.

“Some home offices here need to be promoted. It gives them an opportunity to associate and network with the public.”

This year to build traffic at the expo, they brought in a $1 million digital invisible vault, operated by a Calgary company.

Visitors guessed the seven numbers that open the vault. A successful guess wins the million-dollar pot. “There’s lots of traffic here,” he pointed to the steady line waiting to guess.

The Business Expo is produced by three partners: the Exhibition Company, Kinsmen Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]

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